What Are the Top 7 Year-End Tax Moves Every High-Earning Entrepreneur Should Make?
December is when you finish your taxes — not April. These 7 moves turn year-end into real savings and January into calm.
Summary of What This Blog Covers
- 7 high-impact year-end moves for high-earning entrepreneurs
- Projection, salary, accountable plan, fringes, timing, retirement, safe-harbor
- Mini-math + documentation so you execute confidently
1. Run a 60-Minute Year-End Projection
Reconcile YTD → project profit, salary, distributions → spot bracket + safe-harbor gaps.
2. Right-Size Salary
Document reasonable comp memo. Pay final payroll by 12/31. Balance QBI wages vs payroll drag.
3. Turn On Accountable Plan
Policy + receipts → tax-free reimbursements for home office, mileage, health premiums.
4. Fix Fringe-Benefit Reporting
Health, HSA, parking — report correctly on W-2 or make tax-free under plan rules.
5. Time Income & Expenses
Delay Q1 invoices, prepay 2026 costs (12-month rule), place assets in service for depreciation.
6. Max Retirement Funding
Solo 401(k) by 12/31, SEP by extension. Deferrals + employer contribution = big deduction.
7. Lock Q4 Safe-Harbor Payments
W-4 bump or estimate by Jan 15 → zero underpayment penalties.
Year-End Checklist (copy-paste)
☐ Q4 projection run
☐ Salary memo + final payroll
☐ Accountable plan adopted
☐ Fringe benefits corrected
☐ Income delayed / expenses prepaid
☐ Retirement funded
☐ Safe-harbor gap closed
Book Your Year-End Session
Insogna’s licensed CPAs run your Q4 projection, salary memo, accountable-plan template, fringe fixes, timing tactics, retirement modeling, and safe-harbor lock — all before 12/31. Whether you searched “Austin Texas CPA,” “tax accountant near me,” or “tax preparation services near me,” we turn December into your strongest tax month.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) How much salary is “reasonable”?
Market rate for your duties. We run comp data + memo to document it cleanly.
2) Accountable plan — worth the paperwork?
Yes — tax-free reimbursements for expenses you’re already paying = real savings.
3) How to avoid penalties if I’m short now?
Late-year W-4 increase + estimate — treated as paid evenly all year.
4) Solo 401(k) deadline vs SEP?
Solo 401(k) setup by 12/31. SEP contributions by extension.
5) Fastest way to prepay expenses?
Insurance, subscriptions, software — anything under the 12-month rule.
